Benitez wins second straight

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Javier Benitez (Contentpolis-Ampo) sprinted to his second consecutive stage win on Tuesday, besting Michael Kreder (Rabobank Continental) and Jose A. Carrasco (Spa) Andalucía-Cajasur in the 120-kilometre stage to San Juanito. Benitez, the winner of three stages in last year's event, is beginning to think he can duplicate his performance from 2008.

"Today's win was easier than yesterday's, my legs were heavier then," said Benitez. "The key to victory was that Tecos controlled the race very well and after the last mountain pass my team did a great job. I still think it will be hard to win as many stages as last year, but after today I'm going to try".

Denmark's Michael Rasmussen (Teco Trek) remains in the race lead and is tied on time with second-placed Daniel Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne). Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) holds third place on general classification, one second behind Rasmussen.

The stage was characterized by a seven-man breakaway which included David Vitoria (Rock Racing), Angel Madrazo (Caisse d'Epargne), Florencio Ramos (Tecos), Gonzalo Rabuñal (Xacobeo Galicia), Esteban Plaza (Andalucía-Cajasur), Daniel Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Pedro Merino (Fuji-Servetto). The escape never gained more than two minutes due to Tecos Trek's tempo at the head of the peloton for race leader Rasmussen and the break was neutralized inside of 20 kilometres to the finish line.

Daniel Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne) tried to seize the leader's jersey from Rasmussen with an attack on a category three climb 15 kilometres from the finish, but the chase efforts of Rasmussen and teammate Gregorio Ladino, Rock Racing's Francisco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla and several riders from Fuji-Servetto brought the Spaniard back.

Once Moreno's attack was absorbed the teams of the sprinters assumed control of the peloton and kept the field together to the finish line.

"I had a quiet day today, controlling the pace up the last climb and then handing things over to the teams of the sprinters," said Rasmussen, race leader since his victory in the opening prologue. "Tomorrow I see many attack because the general classification is pretty even overall. Mancebo, Sevilla, Moreno, Cobo or Mosquera will be very dangerous.

"I do not care if I win by hundredths or five minutes, it is the others who have to attack"

Wednesday's 153-kilometre stage from Creel to Guachochi is expected to be the hardest stage of the race, as the riders tackle four categorised climbs: one category 1, one category 2 and two category 4 ascents.